Eclipse IDE Tips and Tricks Every Beginner Should Know

3 min readMay 4, 2023

Introduction

Eclipse IDE is a widely used Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for Java developers and programmers working with other languages such as C++, Python, and PHP. This powerful tool streamlines the development process, making it more efficient and enjoyable. If you’re new to Eclipse, here are some tips and tricks to help you get started and improve your productivity.

Use Keyboard Shortcuts

Eclipse comes with numerous keyboard shortcuts to make your development process quicker. Some of the most essential ones are:

Ctrl + Space: Content assist (autocomplete suggestions)
Ctrl + Shift + R: Open resource (search and open any file in the workspace)
Ctrl + Shift + T: Open type (search and open any Java class)
Ctrl + 1: Quick fix
F3: Open declaration (jump to the declaration of a method, class, or variable)
Alt + ← / →: Navigate back and forward through code locations

Customize Perspectives

Eclipse has different perspectives for different tasks, such as Java, Debug, and Git. You can customize these perspectives to add or remove views based on your preferences. To customize a perspective, go to Window > Perspective > Customize Perspective.

Use the Eclipse Marketplace

Eclipse Marketplace is a great source of plugins to extend Eclipse’s functionality. To access the Marketplace, go to Help > Eclipse Marketplace.

Organize Imports Automatically

Instead of manually organizing imports, you can configure Eclipse to do it automatically. Go to Window > Preferences > Java > Editor > Save Actions, enable “Perform the selected actions on save,” and check “Organize imports.”

Refactor Code Efficiently

Eclipse provides powerful refactoring tools that can help you improve your code. To access these tools, right-click on a code element (e.g., a class, method, or variable), and select Refactor.

Set Up a Debugger

The Eclipse debugger helps you find and fix issues in your code. To set a breakpoint, double-click on the left margin next to the line of code you want to debug. Then, right-click on your project, select Debug As > Java Application, and the debugger will stop at the breakpoint.

Use Code Templates

Eclipse offers code templates to help you write common code structures faster. To create a new template, go to Window > Preferences > Java > Editor > Templates, and click “New.”

Example of a custom template for a main method:

public static void main(String[] args) {
    ${cursor}
}

Configure Code Formatting

To configure code formatting, go to Window > Preferences > Java > Code Style > Formatter. Click “New” to create a new profile, and customize the settings according to your preferences.

Use External Tools

Eclipse allows you to configure external tools, such as build tools or code analyzers, to run within the IDE. Go to Run > External Tools > External Tools Configurations, and set up the tool you want to use.

Master the Task List

Eclipse’s Task List helps you keep track of your to-dos and reminders. To create a new task, right-click in the Task List view and select New > Task. You can also create tasks directly from your code by adding a comment with the “TODO” keyword, like this:

// TODO: Implement the user authentication

Conclusion

These tips and tricks will help you become more productive and efficient with the Eclipse IDE. Take the time to explore and customize Eclipse to suit your workflow and preferences. With practice, you’ll become an Eclipse power user in no time.